Radially broadcasting speaker system



1967 w. A. cooKE 335G514 RADIALLY BROADCASTING SPEAKER SYSTEM Filed June22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l HIII? V Tillmlm 56 52 HI I i 3 SJ WILLIAM A.GOOKE ATTORNEY FIG. I

INVENTOR Oct. 31; 1967 w. A. COOKE RADIALLY BROADCASTING SPEAKER SYSTEM2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22; 1964 ATTORNEY m m m mun/w A. GOOKE BGil/ U United States Patent 3,350,514 RADIALLY BROADCASTING SPEAKERSYSTEM William A. Cooke, Baltimore, Md., assignor of fifty percent toWalter G. Finch, Baltimore, Md. Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,667Claims. (Cl. 179-1155) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A speaker system isformed from a pair of speakers secured together with the apices of theircones pointing towards one another, with voice coils means positionedwithin each cone and directing the sound broadcast by each cone towardthe other cone, whereby the resultant sound is broadcast radially fromthe speaker system.

This invention relates generally to electrodynamic loudspeakers, andmore particularly it pertains to an arrangement for combining the twochannel speakers of a stereo system for single source sound emission.

In the past, high fidelity speakers for stereo have had the disadvantageof being directional. In order to hear stereophonic sound, two separateloud speakers were required, one placed on the right and one on the leftof the auditor and more or less spaced fifteen or twenty feet apart.There would then be a position in front of this array where the soundwould combine to give reality or presence.

Two speakers with their associated housings are expensive. Further,there is the problem of locating the speakers as well as the auditors soas to obtain the stereo effect properly.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anomni-directional dual channel loudspeaker arrangement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stereo soundreproducing speaker which is more compact than any heretofore.

To provide a stereo loudspeaker which emits the dual channels of stereosound from a single point, is yet another object of this invention.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a dual elementloudspeaker of the dynamic type which is simple in construction, highlyefficient in use, and which can be produced at a minimum of cost.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and understood from the following detailedspecification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a loudspeaker having twin speakers shownpartly in vertical section as taken on line 11 of FIG. 2 andincorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the loudspeaker of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows on line 3-3 ofFIG. 1.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, the loudspeaker of thisinvention consists of a twin speaker arrangement indicated generally byreference numeral and comprises essentially two special identical spacedspeakers 12, back-to-back and secured together.

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Each speaker 12 consists of a circular frame or plate 14. This plate 14has a circular shallow depression or boss 16 at its center and a shallowcylindrical wall 18 near its outer edge. The outer edge of the plate 14extends radially at three equally spaced points to form lugs 20. Aperipheral flange is formed all around the plate 14 and continues aroundthe lugs 20 to stiffen the structure.

The intermediate web portion of the plate 14 is provided with lighteningholes 26 and the remaining web portion is stiffened with embossed radialstiffener ribs 24 therebetween.

A cylindrical magnet assembly 28 is secured by bolts 30 to the boss 16at the center of the plate 14. A pole piece 32 of the magnet assembly 28extends through a hole in a steel plate 34 with a clearance or air gaptheregztween. The outer edge of plate 34 has a peripheral flange Acylinder 38 of phenolic or other non-magnetic insulatmg material isprovided with a winding or voice coil 40 at one end. Intermediate theends, the cylinder 38 extends through and is mounted on a diaphragm 42which, 1n turn, is supported on the flange 36 so as to introduce thecoil 40 into the previously mentioned air gap of the plate 34 withfreedom of axial movement. The other end of the cylinder 38 is cementedwithin the apex of a paper cone 44. The apex itself is further providedwith an aperture 46. The periphery of the cone 44 is flattened andclamped under a ring 48 to the outer edge of the plate 14 by means offasteners 50 at spaced intervals.

The speakers 12 are spaced rigidly apart, cone apex toward apex, bythreaded rods 52 passed through the lugs 20 as shown using a bushing 54and nuts 56.

The upper and lower cone Will then form a V from which after each coilis energized with its separate stereo channel, sound will pulsate in acoordinated or synchronized manner in phase giving a stereophonic effectin all directions with no point of out-of-phase condition or cancelling.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A speaker system comprising a pair of speakers, each of \saidspeakers having a cone, with said speakers being secured together insuch a manner that the apices of each said cone are pointed towards oneanother, each said speakers having voice coil means positioned withintheir respective cone, with each said voice coil means directing thesound broadcast by their respective speaker toward the other speaker ofsaid pair, whereby the resultant sound is broadcast radially from saidpair of speakers.

2. The speaker system of claim 1 wherein each said cone has an apertureat its apex.

3. The speaker system of claim 2 wherein each said cone has a platehaving an aperture positioned therein, a magnet pole piece extendinginto the aperture in each said plate, cylinder means having one endencompassing one end of each said magnet pole piece and the other end ofeach secured to their respective cone and encompassing the aperturetherein, and said voice coil means extends between the aperture saidplate and said cylinder means References Cited in each said cone. N D TT N I 4. The speaker system of claim 3 wherein each said U ITE STA ES PAE Ts speaker is electrically connected to separate stereo chan- 21091,011 8/1937 Phelps 179*115'5 nels of a Stereo broadcast. 5 2,755,343 7/1956 L vy 5. The speaker system of claim 1 in combination with 2,768,70210/1956 Lowry 179116 a pair of stereo channel means forming a stereosystem, $076,520 2/1963 Falwell 179-181 with one of said stereo channelmeans energizing one of said speakers and the other of said stereochannel means KATHLEEN CLAFFY Pnmary Exammer energizing the other ofsaidspeakers. 10 A. MCGILL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SPEAKER SYSTEM COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPEAKERS, EACH OF SAID SPEAKERSHAVING A CONE, WITH SAID SPEAKERS BEING SECURED TOGETHER IN SUCH AMANNER THAT THE APICES OF EACH SAID CONE ARE POINTED TOWARDS ONEANOTHER, EACH SAID SPEAKERS HAVING VOICE COIL MEANS POSITIONED WITHINTHEIR RESPECTIVE CONE, WITH EACH SAID VOICE COIL MEANS DIRECTING THESOUND BROADCAST BY THEIR RESPECTIVE SPEAKER TOWARD THE OTHER SPEAKER OFSAID PAIR, WHEREBY THE RESULTANT SOUND IS BROADCAST RADIALLY FROM SAIDPAIR OF SPEAKERS.